Senior National Project Coordinator (NPC)

The Egyptian higher education system is a contributing factor to the economic growth of the country. High youth unemployment rates and long periods of transition between graduation and employment suggest gaps in the quality and relevance of university curricula and the lack of efficient career advisory services. Unemployment and under-employment are even more severe for young women, low-income youth, and young people with disabilities. Equal access to higher education is a further challenge. Significantly, the growth areas of the economy depend on skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Employers are also demanding better core skills for employability, such as English language, communication skills, 21st century skills and business skills.
To respond to the above, the HELW project brings together a consortium of international (ILO, British Council) and national organizations (Al Alfi Foundation and ICareer), public and private sector and NGOs to deliver an innovative programme that leverages existing reform strategies and builds a lasting legacy of public-private collaboration to improve STEM Higher Education participation and outcomes for the most disadvantaged, while simultaneously building Egypt’s capacity for growth in the future economies.
The HELW project proposes a range of innovative responses, based on the experience and capacities of its partners, to address the three strands of the UK call.
For Strand 1- Equity: Promote equitable access to higher education, particularly for low-income youth, young people with disabilities and young women from poor communities, who wish to pursue further studies at public universities in underrepresented subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). HELW will support participating universities to assess and address barriers affecting the target group students, will develop career guidance and outreach marketing, and develop programmes to assist target group youth in meeting the educational and financial requirements to qualify for admission.
For Strand 2 – Quality: Improve the core skills ecosystem within public universities by equipping undergraduates and post-graduates with in-demand and employability skills. HELW will support the development of a common definition for core skills, the identification of priority skills and will pilot the delivery of innovative approaches to teaching, assessment and certification. Because English language (specifically for work in STEM fields) and business skills have already been identified as priorities, these two areas will be piloted. Other core skills will be identified and prioritized for piloting based on research and the guidance of the High Level Working Group for higher education and industry.
 

Strand 3 – Relevance: Work with UK and Egyptian industry to improve the pathways of transition from higher education to employment, particularly in STEM careers, for the target groups outlined above. HELW will involve a number of elements. Under the general Framework for Employability which will be developed and endorsed by the High Level Working group, HELW will facilitate the creation of partnerships and processes better to connect universities with relevant employer and industry groups, to enable better mutual understanding of needs and expectations. Practices such as staff exchanges and work experience for students will be supported. Finally, more active, more effective career guidance services will be developed to aid in the transition from education to employment, again drawing on UK expertise. Data is key to determining the effectiveness of programme activities, so developing a baseline and subsequent tracer studies for STEM student and graduate outcomes is a critical element which will inform the whole programme. Data will include gender, social inclusion, disability status and other measures to ensure that the impact on target groups can be analysed.
It introduces a fourth over-arching outcome which aims to build a sustainability framework and collaborative process for orienting higher education towards employability by establishing a High Level Working Group for higher education and industry, and a number of partnerships at the university level which will build and reinforce higher education/industry links and partnerships between the British and Egyptian university sector. The High Level Working Group will also develop and adopt an Employability Skills Framework which will anchor interventions under the HELW programme and will serve as a guide for ongoing reform in the sector. This will be complemented by a leadership development initiative, drawing on UK expertise, and the establishment of a challenge fund to support innovation at individual universities. Over the course of the HELW project this group will be supported to become self-sustaining.

2. REPORTING LINE
The project will be implemented under the ILO Cairo DC portfolio. The incumbent will perform its duties under the overall responsibitlity and under the direct supervision of the DWT/CO-Cairo Director. The project will be technically backstopped by the Skills Specialist.
 

Project Management:
1. Ensure the management and effective implementation of all project activities, through timely provision of inputs, planning, monitoring and evaluation of activities, and the efficient delivery of results, in conformity with ILO policies, programming guidelines.
2. Ensure effective financial planning, projection, and management of the project funds/budgets, in accordance with ILO rules and regulations, and administrative and financial procedures.
3. Prepare and present work-plans, periodic narrative progress reports and expenditures status reports senior management as required; and coordinate with Geneva on respective matters
4. Manage the human resources of the project efficiently, including recruitment and performance management.
5. Ensure that all implementation agreements with the consortium partners are completed in line with ILO rules and regulations
6. Represent the project at steering committee meetings and donor meetings and act as the main focal point towards the donor.
Technical leadership and coordination:
7. Coordinate and build partnerships with project’s partners, relevant national stakeholders, including governmental institutions, employers’ and workers’ organisations, non-governmental organisations, UN agencies in pursuance of the project’s objectives and ILO’s mandate.
8. Liaise with the national counterparts, donor, and other partners to ensure the project results are achieved and resources are managed.
9. In collaboration with ILO technical specialists, ensure sound design of project’s interventions.
10. Provide technical advice and support to relevant government ministries, social partners and other key national and international partners, in close collaboration with the Director of ILO Cairo, the Decent Work Team for North Africa and HQ units as relevant.
11. Draft Terms of Reference for services providers, consultants, and implementing partners, coordinate their activities and ensure timely and high quality delivery of outputs.
12. Ensure that all required documents by FCDO especially for the inception phase)  are produced in good quality and in line with ILO standards.
Knowledge Management:
13. Monitor, evaluate, and report on project’s results and activities, building an information system to ensure effective and timely progress and delivery. This includes the preparation and management of the project monitoring plan and system, the project annual work plan as well as record and maintain documents on relevant project activities, issues, and risks.

 

14. Liaise closely with different ILO departments, on knowledge management, communications, and M&E efforts including through submission of timely information, regular reporting on achievements and highlights of best practice and lessons learned.
15. Undertake regular and ad hoc visits to project implementation sites in order to monitor and ensure quality delivery and compliance to ILO standards and policies.
16. Perform other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor.

First Level university degree(Bachelor's or equivalent) in development studies, economics, social science, management, or related field

• At least five years of relevant professional experience within the international development context.
• Previous experience and knowledge on skills development, employability issues and higher education management .
• Field work and experience coordinating with local, national and other key stakeholders.
• Experience in  advising Egyptian institutions will be a distinct advantage;
• Familiarity and previous work experience with the ILO or other UN agencies would be an added advantage.
• Ideally previous experience in managing large scale projects and ideally managing FCDO projects
 

Excellent command of written and spoken English. Working knowledge of  French or Arabic language

In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], this position requires:
• Ability to provide technical advice and to guide and coordinate the work of external collaborators and general service staff in the area of specialization.
• Ability to analyse cross-national practices and data sets covering a wide range of issues in the specialized technical field skills development, entrepreneurship and higher education management.
• Ability to draft quality reports and prepare guidelines relating to programme development and implementation.
• Ability to provide technical support to senior specialists, carrying out research, project formulation and implementation.
• Ability to participate effectively in technical missions and to provide technical inputs for the ILO Decent Work Agenda.
• Excellent analytical skills and knowledge of analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.
• Strong relations with partners and stakeholders;
• Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage competing priorities.
Candidates assessed by the panel and considered eligible for appointment but who are not selected for this vacant post may be offered an assignment to another position at the same or lower grade provided that they meet the minimum qualifications required.